Banana-shipping case.



PATENTBD MAR. 17, 1903'.

E. o. PITTENGEN.

BANANA SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

@1mi hurones UNITED STATES ELMER o. PITTENGER, or LA oRossE, To EZEKIEL c. swARTHoUr,

PATENT EETCE,

NVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF LA GROSSE, WISCONSIN.

BANANAfsi-IIPPING CASE.

SPEGFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,890, dated March 17, 1903.

Application filed August 7, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER O. PITTENGER, aA citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banana-Shipping Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

My invention lrelates to certain improvements in banana-shipping cases or crates, the object of which is to provide a package adapted to receive a bunch of bananas and protect v them from the blows and jars incident to the ordinary means of transportation.V

A further object is to provide a bagor tube to contain the fruit, which may be used in a crate of ordinary construction and which mayY be easily and quickly suspended in such cratev and adjusted to be held at the proper tension to provide the necessary cushion to prevent the bruising of the fruit.

With the above and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, said invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts,which will be hereinafter fully describedV and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofY my improved shipping-case. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same before the top is closed.y Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section through the upper portion of the bag and crate, showing the manner of closing the top of the bag. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section through the case.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical crate of any desired construction', but preferably formed of the top and bottom hoops 2 and 3, united by the vertical slats 4, which are strengthened and braced by the intermediate surrounding hoops 5. The bag or tube 6, made of burlap or other suitable material, is adapted to receive the bunch of bananas and is suspended in the crate 1. The said bag is composed of the central portion 7, which is cylindrical and of less diameter than the inside Serial No. 118,703. (No model.)

of the crate and has formed on its lower end 'a surrounding fold or plait 8, through which the Wirc hoop or band 9, encircling the lower portion of the crate, passes and holds the central portion of the tube centered in the crate. The said fold or plait is preferably formed of a piece of material separate from the central portion and may be sewed or otherwise se-V cured thereto, and has an extension 10, which vis gathered together and tied at 11 in the center of the crate, below the wire hoop 9, in order to form the bottom of the bagor tube 6.

V-The lower end of saidextension is secured around the inside of the bottom hoop 3 by staples, tacks, or other fasteningv means. The

wire band 9 is passed through the fold or plait 8 and around the outside of thevertical slats 4, and is drawn -down'upon the slats to vary the tension of the central tube, and is then secured to the slats by nails, brads, or other suitable fastening means 12. The upper end of the central portion 7 of the bag has a similar fold or plait 13, through which thewire hoop or band 14 passes and surrounds theupper portions of the vertical slats 4. The said fold 13 is preferably formed of a piece of material separate from the central tube Tand has one of its folded portions 15 extended to provide a coveringfor the bag or tube. After the bunch of bananas has `been inserted through the top of the bag the same is closed by gathering together the extension 15 and tying or otherwise securing it at 16 and then fastening its Y extremeeud to the inside of the upper hoop 2 of the crate'in a manner similar to the closing of the bottom of the bag. The Wire hoop 14 is secured to the slats 4 by the nails or other fastening means 17 and may be adjusted upon said slats to vary the tension of the IOO Wise securing them to the slats 4c. It Will also be seen upon reference to Fig. 2 that the mouth or top of the bag before the same is closed is large and funnel-shaped, allowing the fruit to be easily inserted Without the liability of being mashed or bruised.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my improved banana-crate Will be readily apparent Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacriticing'any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a shipping-case, the combination with a suitable crate formed of hoops united by spaced slats, of a bag hung Within the same, consisting` of a central cylindrical portion, al bottom closing portion anda top closing portion, folds or plaits formed in said top and bottom portions for supporting the central portion, adjustable sliding hoops mounted on the slats of said crate and engaging said folds or plaits, and means for adjusting said sliding hoops on said crate to vary the tension of said bag, substantially as specified.

2. In a banana-shipping case, the combination with a suitable crate composed of longitudinal spaced slats and connecting-hoops; of an inclosing bag shorter and of less diameter than the interior of said crate, suspended within the same and composed of a central cylindrical portion, top and bottom closing portions, and folds or plaits in said top and bottom portions, hoops slidably mounted on the slats of said crate and passing through said folds or plaits, and means for adj ustably securing said sliding hoops to the crate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a shipping-case, the combination With a suitable crate, of a bag suspended Within said orateoomposed of a central cylindrical portion and top and bottom portions, said top and bottom portions being provided With folds or plaits at their point of connection with the central portion and being gathered together and secured to close the ends of said central portion and having their ends secured to the top and bottom of said crate, hoops slidably mounted on the outside of said crate and passing through said folds or plaits to suspend the central portion of the bag, and means for adjustably securing the sliding hoops to the crate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ELMER. O. PITTENGER.

Witnesses:

E. C. SWARTHOUT, PAUL W. MAHONEY. 

